Dry needling

Dry needling is a treatment method in which a 'dry needle' is inserted into a muscle to make it relax. With this method, no fluid is injected into or withdrawn from the body, unlike with an injection needle. The needle used is a thin acupuncture needle.

Trigger points in dry needling

Trigger points are localized taut bands in a muscle that can provoke symptoms. They are also called muscle knots. Trigger points can cause long-lasting pain with radiation. To find a trigger point, the physical therapist will first want to know what symptoms are present and how they arose. The therapist then looks for local hardenings in a muscle that reproduce the symptoms.

Trigger points can develop in any muscle. Each trigger point has its own referral pattern. As a result, a trigger point often causes pain in a different place in the body. But pain is not the only problem that trigger points cause. Decreased strength and stiffness are also consequences of trigger points. Physical therapists regularly use dry needling to treat trigger points.

Causes

Trigger points can be caused by physical overuse of muscles, but also by psychological factors.

Physical overuse
Examples of physical overuse include poor posture, prolonged muscle tension, repeatedly performing the same movement, and short-term heavy exertion. Injuries and (minor) physical abnormalities such as flat feet or a leg length difference can also lead to trigger points.

Psychological causes
Examples of psychological causes include stress, bottling up feelings, and increased work pressure.

Dry needling treatment

During a dry needling treatment, a thin needle is inserted into a trigger point. When this happens, the muscle suddenly contracts (twitch); this can be somewhat uncomfortable. The muscle then relaxes. The intention is to eliminate the local hardening in the muscle. The longer the symptoms have existed, the greater the chance that the trigger points are not limited to one muscle. It may therefore be necessary to address multiple trigger points in one session.

Inserting the needle is not painful. Puncturing the trigger point can be briefly sensitive. Some describe this as a cramp-like sensation or a small electric shock.

After needling, improvement in pain or mobility is usually immediately noticeable. However, a slightly bruised feeling may sometimes occur after the treatment. This bruised feeling generally subsides quickly by staying active and doing light stretching exercises.

Usually, only a few dry needling treatments are needed to resolve the symptoms. At that point, it is wise to prevent the symptoms from returning through the right exercises and advice.

Where can I find a dry needling therapist?

The following page provides an overview of physical therapists who perform dry needling. Enter your ZIP code to find a dry needling practice nearby.